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There is a need to amplify indigenization through fully integrated public and private organizations in defense production: COAS During Seminar Held at Army Auditorium

Atwo-day national seminar on “Defense Production: Security through Self-reliance” was held at Army Auditorium Rawalpindi on July 19, 2019.
The seminar was aimed at paving the way for self-reliance by exploring indigenous defense production potential, identifying organizational and institutional challenges of the defense industry, pragmatic solutions to optimize defense production and recommending policy level measures to have fully immersed private sector in defense production.

Members from different ministries, public and private organizations, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, defense production establishments and academia attended the seminar.
Representatives from public sector discussed and suggested the way forward for public-private partnership in defense production. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Zubaida Jalal, Minister for Defense Production and Mr. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Science and Technology shared their views and suggestions for the developing Pakistan’s defense industry into a prolific entity. Representatives from private sectors shared the roadmap for enhancing public-private partnership in defense production.
Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to PM on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment of Pakistan enlightened the participants on importance of independent defense industry for national security.
Based on discussion and suggestions discussed during the two-days long sessions, the seminar concluded with policy level recommendations for the government. Major recommendations included establishment of a task force under the Prime Minister for a roadmap to facilitate indigenous defense production, establishing raw material industry, incorporating private sector for raw material base so as to optimally utilize public sector capacity for indigenous defense production, surplus defense potential for export, establishing “digital parks” to tap into software industry’s potential and promoting R&D in universities.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa thanked the participants for giving time to an important issue concerning national security. COAS said, “There is a need for enhanced public-private partnership to make Pakistan’s defense industry into a vibrant, self-reliant and self-sustained entity. Apart from the public sector and defense production organizations, a fully integrated private sector in our defense industry is much needed. There is a need to amplify indigenization through fully integrating public and private organizations in defense production for meaningful progression in defense of the country.”